[en] The present investigations show the feasibility of analyzing the cerebral metabolism of amino acids and related metabolites by ¹³C-and ¹⁴C-labelling using labelled acetate and glucose as markers for glial and neuronal metabolism, respectively. Using [¹³C[acetate, it was shown that glial cells export ∼60% of their TCA cycle intermediates, mostly as glutamine, and that this glutamine is used by neurons partly as an energy reserve, and partly it is converted directly to glutamate and GABA. Using [¹³C[glucose, the glial process or pyruvate carboxylation was shown to compensate fully for the loss of glutamine. The mechanism of action of two neurotoxins, fluorocitrate and 3-nitropropionate was elucidated. The latter toxin was shown to inhibit the TCA cycle of GABAergic neurons selectively. Formation of pyruvate and lactate from glial TCA cycle intermediates was demonstrated in vivo. This pathway may be important for glial inactivation of transmitter glutamate and GABA. The results illustrate glianeuronal interactions, and they suggest the applicability of ¹³CNMR spectroscopy to the detailed study of the cerebral metabolism of amino acids in the intact, unanesthetized human brain. 174 refs

[en] The purpose of this study is to evaluate the performance of immunoscintigraphy (IS) to diagnose hepatic metastases of colorectal carcinoma. PATIENTS: IS was performed in 19 patients because of rising serum titres of the tumor markers (12), to evaluate recurrent carcinoma confirmed by other examinations (6) and to assess the spread of an inoperable rectosigmoid tumor (1). METHOD: F(ab')₂ fragments of anti-CEA and 19.9 monoclonal antibodies were used (1.5 mCi if each). Planar scans of the liver were obtained 3 and 5 days post-injection.sup(99m)Tc sulphur colloid scintigraphy was performed at the same time. The data were compared with ultrasonographic and CT scan findings. RESULTS: In 9 cases, IS showed abnormal foci in the liver region. IS and ultrasonography were used simultaneously in 15 patients. The results agreed 13 times (8 negative, 5 positive); IS was positive twice while the ultrasound scans were negative. IS and CT liver scans were carried out simultaneously in 10 patients. The results agreed in all cases. 5 patients underwent laparotomy. Intraoperative findings agreed with IS data in all cases. Our results emphasize the importance of a painstaking examination of the liver region when using IS to diagnose colorectal tumor recurrence. The agree with those obtained by Deland et al. (Sem Nucl Med 15, 2-11, 1985). (Author)

[en] Although cancer of the penis is a rare disease, we have collected 506 cases through a multicentric study. In the present study we analyse the results obtained from 259 patients treated by interstitial brachytherapy from 1959 to 1989. Among the 259 patients, 184 males had exclusive brachytherapy (group A) while 75 received a combination of surgery and brachytherapy and/or external beam irradiation (EBI) (group B). Five- and 10-year survival rates are, respectively: overall survival, 66 and 52%; cause-specific survival, 88 and 88%; disease-free survival, 78 and 67%. One hundred and forty-three patients in group A (78%) and 48 (64%) in group B avoided mutilation of the penis while late side effects occurred in (137(259)) patients (53%). Survival depends on the volume of the tumor and the presence of involved nodes; systematic groin dissection does not however seem advisable